Time to Bloom: 5 Ways to Refresh Your Mental Health This Spring

Contributed by EDRS Therapist Katherine Stewart, LMHC

Spring is a season of renewal, growth, and fresh starts. As the world around us begins to bloom, it’s a perfect time to check in with ourselves and nurture our mental and physical well-being. These five tips will help you embrace the season while prioritizing your mental health, gently and compassionately.

  1. Breathe in the Fresh Air
    • Spending time outside has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and boost overall well-being. Exposure to nature, even briefly, can lower cortisol levels and enhance feelings of calmness. Whether it’s a walk in the park, sitting on a bench in the sun, or simply opening a window for fresh air, allow yourself to connect with the world around you. Just like flowers need sunlight and fresh air to thrive, so do we.
  1. Water Yourself
    • Plants can’t flourish without water, and neither can we! Just as you’d tend to and water your garden, we also need to take time for ourselves to function properly and feel energized throughout the day. The saying, “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” is a great reminder of how we need to give to ourselves in order to pour into the things most important to us. Asking yourself, What do I need right now? can be a powerful way to reconnect with your own needs.

But what if you don’t have time to take a break? Watering yourself can happen in even the shortest of moments. This can be as simple as pausing for a five-minute break, stepping away from a stressful task, or providing yourself words of self-compassion. Dr. Kristin Neff’s Self-Compassion Break is a great tool to offer yourself kindness in moments of struggle. 

  1. Spring Forward
    • Spring cleaning isn’t just for your home, but for your mind too! Just as we clear out clutter to make space for new growth, we can also release thoughts, habits, or self-criticisms that no longer serve us. What can you let go of this season to make room for more joy, self-compassion, or healing? Whether it’s a limiting belief, an old routine, or even social media that doesn’t align with your values, give yourself permission to refresh and spring forward. 
  1. Tend to Your Garden
    • Self-care is like tending a garden, which requires patience, nourishment, and regular attention. What small acts of care can you incorporate into your daily routine? Maybe it’s journaling, stretching, setting boundaries, or making space for things that you enjoy. Every small act of self-care is like a seed, water, and sunlight coming together to contribute to your overall well-being.

Remember, there is no “right” way to care for yourself, only what feels good and supportive to you! 

  1. Bloom Where You’re Planted
    • Flowers don’t bloom on command—they open up in their own time. Healing and growth work the same way. Embrace where you are in your journey and trust that you are growing in the way you need and at your own pace. It’s okay if things don’t happen overnight—what matters is showing up for yourself with patience and self-compassion.

Think about the moment you spot the first bloom of the season and the relief that comes with knowing that winter is finally behind us, the fresh air carrying the promise of warmth and new beginnings. That first bloom is a reminder that change is happening, even when we can’t see it right away. Celebrate even the smallest wins because every step forward is important. 

As the season changes, may you find space to breathe, grow, and embrace yourself with kindness. You deserve care and compassion– not just in spring, but always.

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